Lifting jack



Jan- 21, 1954 A. c. ACHTERBERG ETAL 3,118,651

LIFTING JACK Filed April 13, 1962 United States Patent 3,llS,-51 l-ZlFlNG EACK Arthur C. Achterberg and Stephen El. Paul, St. Joseph, lvlich., assignors to Auto Specialties Manufacturing Co., St. `loseph, Mich., a corporation of Michigan `Filed Apr. i3, 1%2, Ser, No. l87,329 9 Clair-ns. {CL 25d-Jill) The present invention relates to a novel lifting jack, and more specifically to a novel jack adapted to -be used for engaging and lifting a bumper or other desired part of a vehicle.

An important object of the present invention is to provide a novel lifting jack having load lifting means which may be operated easily `and without requiring great strength on the part of the operator and which may be safely operated without danger olf injury to the operator both during raising and lowering of the load.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a novel lifting jack having actuating means constructed so that it is readily adjustable for enabling an operator to var] the mechanical advantage provided thereby.

Still another object of the present invention is to provide a novel lifting jack having parts formed for minimizing friction therebetween and for resisting corrosion for permitting ease of operation and extended working life.

A more specific object of the present invention is to provide a novel lifting jack of economical and compact construction and adapted to be readily assembled or disassembled to facilitate storage thereof.

Other objects and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following description and the accompanying drawing, wherein:

FlG. l is an elevational View partially in cross-section showing a lifting jack incorporating features of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a fragmentary plan View of the novel lifting jack;

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary sectional view taken along line 3 3 in PEG. 4; and

PEG. 4 is a fragmentary sectional view taken along line 4 4- in HG. l.

Referring now more specifically to the drawings, wherein like parts are designated by the same numerals throughout the various liguri-es, a lifting jack incorporating features of the present invention comprises an upstanding screw rod or column .detachably connected with and supported by a foot member l2. Load lifting means 3.4- is mounted on the screw rod for engaging an automobile bumper or any other desired object to be lifted.

The screw rod itl is provided with helical thread convolutions le which extend from its upper end toward but short of its lower end so that the lower end has an unthreaded portion i3. An integral lug 2@ is formed on a side of the unthreaded lower end portion 13 for cooperative engagement with the foot member l2 for preventing rotation of the screw rod about its own axis. After the load lifting means is assembled with the screw rod, a nib or stop element 2,2 is formed on the screw rod, as shown in FiG. l, for limiting upward movement of the load liftinU vmeans along the rod. lt is to be noted that the stop 2,2 is spaced substantially below the upper end of the rod. As a result, the uppermost position of a nut element of the load lifting means, to be described hereafter, is determined by the stop element 22. and is well below the upper end of the screw rod. Tne substantial portion of the rod above the stop element aids in strengthening and rigidifying the portion of the rod or column beneath and relatively adjacent to the stop 22.

rthe foot member ft2 comprises a generally rectangular sheet metal base portion 2.4 adapted to rest on the ground or any other support surface. A section lof the base Sligl Patented dan. 21, i964 ice portion is raised above the peripheral edge of the base portion and is provided with a central socket or well 28 adapted to receive and retain the lowerrnost end of the screw rod. An inverted cup-shaped ele-ment 30 is welded or otherwise secured to the raised section Z6 of the base portion. An upper end Wall 32 of the cup-shaped element is formed `with a central aperture 34 therethrough substantially vertically aligned with the socket ZS and also adapted to receive and snugly confine the unthreaded lower end portion Ill-8 of the screw rod. A notch 36 is eut in the margin of the aperture 34 for interengagement with the lug Ztl on the screw rod.

The load lifting means includes an elongated nut member 3S threaded onto the screw rod i6 and preferably having a length substantially equal to or in excess of twice its internal diameter for promoting ease of operation. An inverted beveled crown gear element di? is integrally formed with the nut member 38, which gear element is adapted to be driven in the manner described in detail below for rotating the nut member and thereby raising or lowering the load lifting means.

A thrust bearing washer 42 is assembled over the screw rod and on top of the nut member 3S and separates the nut member from an elongated tubular `sleeve portion le of a carrier member 45. The washer has an inverted cuplike shape presenting a depending Aflange 43 surrounding and spaced from the `upper end of the nut member for preventing dirt and the like from entering between the nut member and the washer. The tubular sleeve portion closely but slidably receives the screw rod and has a length preferably in excess of twice its internal diameter for minimizing any tendency of the sleeve portion to twist and bind on the screw rod. Radiating grooves 4S are formed in and spaced around the upper end of the nut member 38, as shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, for reducing frictional engagement between the nut member and the thrust bearing washer d2, and also `for providing troughs for accumulating and discharging any dust or other residue which may be fon-med between the engaging surfaces of the nut member and the thrust washer.

The carrier member 46 includes an arm 5l? integrally .formed with the sleeve portion 44 and extending rearwardly and downwardly from the sleeve portion in a diagonal direction as shown best in FIG. 1. The lower end of the arm Ell merges .with an integral tubular bearing portion 52. The bearing portion 52 rotatably receives and supports an elongated shank section 54 of a pinion 5o which meshes with the gear element 4Q.

in order to operate the gear structure, a handle member :'58 is provided. The handle member is in the form of an elongated rod or bar having a straight shank section 6? extending through a transverse aperture 62 formed in the shanlc or hun portion 54 of the pinion. An outer end portion ed of the bar is bent so as to extend generally perpendicularly from the shank section et). An upper end section 66 of the handle bar is attened and transversely enlarged as shown in FlGS. l and 2, so that its major transverse dimension is substantially greater than the diameter of the aperture 62. The transversely enlarged end portion ce serves to retain the handle member in assembled relationship with the pinion shank 54. Furthermore it is to be noted that the flattened and enlarged end section is acapted to be engaged within a note formed in the pinion shank portion 54 by sliding the handle member downwardly from the position shown in FIG. l. When the end portion 6o is engaged within the notch 63, the handle member will be locked against rotation about the axis of its shank portion et? for promoting easier manual manipulation or rotation of the handle member and thus actuation of the ifting jack.

s suggested in the preceding paragraph, the handle member 5d may be adjusted by sliding the section dll thereof through the aperture 62. rl`hus, the operator can adjust the mechanical advantage provided by the handle member in accordance w h the requirements of a particular situation. Furthermore the handle member may be adjustsa and rotated so that the end portion 64 turns inwardly for decreasing the amount of space required for storage purposes.

The carrier member do comprises an integral load supporting projection 79 extending forwardly from the sleeve portion The portion 7? may be extended for directly engaging an automobile bumper or other article to be lifted. However, in the specific embodiment shown, the projection '7f3 is adapted to receive and support a load engageable saddle member 72. The member 72 is formed from sheet metal and is provided with spaced opposite side portions 'i4 75 which embrace the element 7?, as shown in Fl YS. l and Z, and which are connected by a Vbight portion iid. The bight portion 7S may be provided with the generally hooked configuration shown for accommodating the contour of a bumper or other article to be engaged. A pivot pin Sti extends between and is secured to the side sections '74 and 75 and is adapted to rest the load lifting projection '76.

The projection 7i) is formed with an upper surface S2 which extends upwardly and outwardly so that the pin d@ tends to be held by gravity in a seat Eid at the lower end of the surface S2. A spring retainer element $6 is anchored to the sleeve portion 4d and extends over and engages the pin Si? for releasably holding the pin against seat Sli. An outer end portion of the spring retainer which is formed from spring wire in the mmner shown projects upwardly for facilitating insertion of the pin d@ beneath the spring retainer when the load engageaole member 7@ is assembled with the carrier member.

When the jack unit is in the generally upright position shown in FlG. l, it will be observed that the upper surface S2 of the load lifting projection 70 is inclined upwardly sumciently to retain the pivot pin Sil. At the same time the upward inclination of the surface 82 is such that in the event that the vehicle being lifted rolls bacliwardly so as to fall from the jack, the pin Si) will slip forwardly from the surface $2 for releasing the load engaging member 72 and thereby prevent injury to either the jach7 unit or the vehicle. lt may also be noted that when the jacl: is in the normal upright position the construction is such that the axis of the pinion 56 is inclined upwardly and rearwardly slightly from the horizontal, As a result, the handle member 53 normally is positioned for rotation in a plane inclined slightly forwardly with Vrespect to the upstanding screw rod 16. ln certain situations, the jack unit may tend to tilt rearwardly a slight amount when placed under the load of a vehicle, whereby the handle member is shifted to a more Vertical position. rlhe arrangement is such that when the handle member extends downwardly, as shown in FIG. l, the lower end thereof will always be positioned slightly behind the pinion during normal operation of the unit for facilitating access thereto by the operator and 'promoting easier operation of the unit.

The screw rod or column i6 is preferably of a rolled construction Vwhich provides a smooth imsh. The rolling operation also causes work hardening of the screw rod which enhances the rigidity of the column.V ln order further to provide a smooth surface for reducing friction, the screw rod is subjected to a; phosphate V'treatment for increasing corrosion resistance and also to an application of a suitable dry lubricant.

. rlie nut and gear member, the pinion, and the carrier .d 'are preferably made from a zinc base die cast alloy.

Such a material provides self lubricating characteristics l tionV has been shown and described herein, it is obvious .and good resistance to corrosion for further promoting that many structural details may be changed without departing from the spirit and scope of the appended claims.

The invention is claimed as follows:

l. A lifting jack comprising au upstauding screw rod, a foot member receiving and retaining a lower end of the rod and supporting said rod in an upstanding position, a nut member threadedly mounted on said rod and movable along the rod upon rotation of the nut member, said nut member being elongated and having a length at least substantially twice its internal diameter, a downwardly facing beveled gear element connected with said nut member between the middle and an upper end of the nut member and substantially below the upper end of the nut member, a carrier supported by said nut member and having a first portion solely on top of said nut member and slidably embracing said screw rod, a pinion rotatably mounted on a second portion of said carrier and meshing with said gear element, said carrier including an arm extending between said rst carrier portion and said second carrier portion and 1roviding the sole means positioning said second carrier portion for supporting said pinion beneath the downwardly facing beveled gear element, means for rotating said pinion, and load supporting means on said carrier.

2. A lifting jack, as defined in claim l, comprising anV annular thrust bearing washer disposed between said nut member and said first carrier portion.

3. A lifting jack, `as dened in claim l, wherein said lload supportiruT means includes a projection integral with `and extending forwardly of said first carrier portion.

4. A lifting jack, as defined in claim 3, wherein said load supporting means includes a load eugageable member pivotally supported on said projection.

5. A lifting jack, as defined in claim 4, wherein said load engageable member comprises pivot pin means, said projection including an upwardly facing and slightly upwardly inclined surface engaging beneath and supporting said pivot pin means, said pivot pin means being disen- Vgageable from said surface inthe event of forward tipping of the jack while lifting a load.

6. A lifting jack, as defined in claim l, wherein said means for rotating said pinion comprises a handle member including an elongated shank portion, said pinion including a shaft having a transverse aperture therethrough, said shank portion slidably extending through said aperture for enabling radial adjustment of said handle member.

7. A lifting jack, as defined in claim 6, wherein said handle member includes laterally projecting hand grip means at an outer .end thereof, and means substantially at an opposite end thereof interengageable with said pinion shaft for preventing rotation of the handle about the axis of said handle shank portion.

8. A Vlifting jack comprising a generally vertically supported screw rod, a combined nut and gear member including yan elongated internally threaded tubular portion having a length .at least substantially twice its internal diameter threaded-ly mounted on said screw rod and a downwardly facing gear portion integrally connected with said tubular portion at least partially between the middle of the upper end of the tubular portion and substantially spaced below the upper end of the tubular portion, a carrier member including a iirst tubular portion slidably disposed on said screw rod above and supported by and solely on top of said nut and gear member, a bearing washer disposed between an upper end of said tubular portion of the nut and gear member and a tlower end of Vsaid carrier member tubular portion, said washer including a peripheral depending flange overlapping the upper end of Vsaid nut and gear member tubular portion for resisting entry of dirt or foreign material between the washer and said upper end of the nut and gear member tubular portion, said carrier member including a single arm portion projecting rearwardly from said iirst portion and a tubular bearing portion supported at an outer end of said ari portion, a pinion rotatably mounted in said Ytubular bear- References Cited in Ihe le of this patent Y UNITED STATES PATENTS 479,971 Carr Aug. 2, 1892 6 Trusler June 10, 1924 Countryman June 26, 1934 Benson Oct. 17, 1950 Jensen May 29, 1'951 Jensen Apr. 1, 1952 Pa ka Aug. 26, 1952 Lucker 1an. 17, 1956 Lucker May 1, 1956 Lucker Nov. 29, 1960 FOREIGN PATENTS Germany Oct. 30, 1936 

8. A LIFTING JACK COMPRISING A GENERALLY VERTICALLY SUPPORTED SCREW ROD, A COMBINED NUT AND GEAR MEMBER INCLUDING AN ELONGATED INTERNALLY THREADED TUBULAR PORTION HAVING A LENGTH AT LEAST SUBSTANTIALLY TWICE ITS INTERNAL DIAMETER THREADEDLY MOUNTED ON SAID SCREW ROD AND A DOWNWARDLY FACING GEAR PORTION INTEGRALLY CONNECTED WITH SAID TUBULAR PORTION AT LEAST PARTIALLY BETWEEN THE MIDDLE OF THE UPPER END OF THE TUBULAR PORTION AND SUBSTANTIALLY SPACED BELOW THE UPPER END OF THE TUBULAR PORTION, A CARRIER MEMBER INCLUDING A FIRST TUBULAR PORTION SLIDABLY DISPOSED ON SAID SCREW ROD ABOVE AND SUPPORTED BY AND SOLELY ON TOP OF SAID NUT AND GEAR MEMBER, A BEARING WASHER DISPOSED BETWEEN AN UPPER END OF SAID TUBULAR PORTION OF THE NUT AND GEAR MEMBER AND A LOWER END OF SAID CARRIER MEMBER TUBULAR PORTION, SAID WASHER INCLUDING A PERIPHERAL DEPENDING FLANGE OVERLAPPING THE UPPER END OF SAID NUT AND GEAR MEMBER TUBULAR PORTION FOR RESISTING ENTRY OF DIRT OR FOREIGN MATERIAL BETWEEN THE WASHER AND SAID UPPER END OF THE NUT AND GEAR MEMBER TUBULAR PORTION, SAID CARRIER MEMBER INCLUDING A SINGLE ARM PORTION PROJECTING REARWARDLY FROM SAID FIRST PORTION AND A TUBULAR BEARING PORTION SUPPORTED AT AN OUTER END OF SAID ARM 